Tetrahydrothiophene is a sulfur-containing saturated heterocyclic compound obtained by catalytic hydrogenation of thiophene. After thiophene is reduced to tetrahydrothiophene, it no longer has a conjugated system and aromaticity. Therefore, tetrahydrothiophene shows the properties of general thioethers. Easily oxidized to sulfoxides and sulfones. Tetrahydrothiophene can be used as a raw material for the production of pharmaceuticals, pesticides and photochemicals.
When the ends of the chains are joined together into a ring, cyclic compounds result; such substances often are referred to as carbocyclic or alicyclic compounds. Substitution of one or more of the ring carbon atoms in the molecules of a carbocyclic compound with a heteroatom gives a heterocyclic compound.